Chinese Leader to Visit Seoul in Early July

Xi Jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Seoul on July 3-4 to meet with President Park Geun-hye, diplomatic sources said Thursday.

Xi visited South Korea in 1995, 2005, and 2009, but this is his first visit as Chinese president after he came into office in March last year. It is also the first time a Chinese president visits South Korea before North Korea.

When Xi was picked as the next Chinese leader and became vice president in March 2008, he chose North Korea for his first overseas trip.

Relations between the neighbors have remained relatively friendly despite friction with Japan and North Korea.